Can all rabbits use stairs?

[LauraPalmer]

When I had rabbits in the past, we were told rabbits should not be allowed to use stairs, but that really limits Laura’s play space. Right now, she basically only has 200 square feet to play in. She seems to like it just fine, but I’d like for her to be able to explore more spaces, and have more room to play. I have seen many posts about rabbits going up and down stairs. Laura is on the upper level, where all the bedrooms are (she has her own bedroom, as well), as the main level is all wide open, living areas. The stairway has 11 steps, and there is a balcony railing around the perimiter that she could easily squeeze through. The stairs are carpeted, which is probably better/easier to manage than wood.

[Luna]

I’ve never heard that buns shouldn’t use stairs. If you think about it, stairs are like ramps, and buns use ramps all the time. Luna used to go up and down stairs when she lived with her first owner, but she doesn’t like my stairs because they are pretty steep. If she wanted to go up and down my stairs I would let her, but I don’t force her if she doesn’t want to. I would be hesitant about letting Laura use the stairs if there are gaps that she could slip through and fall off.

[Bam]

I don’t have stairs, but I wish I did, for the sake of bunny exercise! Our member Gina.Jenny has told us about her rabbits (she has 6) and how they love running up and down her (carpeted stairs).

[LauraPalmer]

Huh. Good to know. The stairs themselves don’t have spaces, but their is a railing surrounding the balcony, and it is a 10 foot drop. Would she be aware enough to know not to go through them if she saw the drop? Is their depth perception good enough to prevent them from trying? I guess I’m just nervous that she would tumble down them, and break her back. I’m not sure if she’s ever used stairs before. The vets also told us not to let them on the bed, as they could break their backs jumping off. Granted, this was 20 years ago…

[LauraPalmer]

Oh, wow! That’s a lot of bunnies!!!

[LauraPalmer]

I guess I could put her on a leash, to test her out, and see what she does.

[Gina.Jenny]

Your stairs sound much like ours, and as bam says, all six of our buns love racing up and down them, inc Mini, who is a dainty 1.6 kg

[Gina.Jenny]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxdwvD8ELN07b1pHWXRTR1N1azQ/view?usp=sharing

Here you can see Podge and Gina racing down, there are plenty of gaps in the banister rails, but none of our buns have ever done more than poke a curious nose through

[LauraPalmer]

Aww, that’s about the same size as Laura. What kind of bunny is mini?

[Gina.Jenny]

Regarding jumping of the bed, our buns have been banned from the bed ever since Pippi decided it was a great place to up tail and piddle, but all of our buns jump up onto the settees, and all have been known to jump down the back way. Pippi, when young actually cleared the settee in a jump from the floor in front to the floor behind it

[Gina.Jenny]

Posted By LauraPalmer on 5/08/2017 10:09 AM

Aww, that’s about the same size as Laura. What kind of bunny is mini?

Mini, like most of our buns, is a rescue, so I don’t know what breed, though I would say he is part Nethie?

Here is Gina (2 kg bun), poised to jump off the back of the settee…

[LauraPalmer]

Oh, wow!!! The highest I have seen Laura jump, so far, is about 1/2 a meter (to jump onto her new, hay box obstacle), and she seemed to have to focus a minute or so before trying it. I forgot to mention that the main level, including the bottom of the stairs, is wood. Is that ok?

[LauraPalmer]

They are so cute! Do you have litter boxes all over the house, then?

[Gina.Jenny]

I would let Laura see if she thinks its Ok! Buns aren’t stupid, she will judge if she feels safe, it may take time… Mini took a while, Pippi at 10 weeks old, made his way to the top of the stairs less than 2 hours after moving in!

[LauraPalmer]

Our main level is 1100 square feet, and completely open…that’s a lot of room to get into trouble! ? Do they usually stay pretty close to you, or do you have to have eagle eye to make sure they don’t get hurt?

[Gina.Jenny]

Everywhere is pretty bun-proofed, but an eagle eye and a constant ear are required when the buns are out, Gina especially knows to wait til I’m in the kitchen before getting into mischief!

[LauraPalmer]

I’ve heard that a lot of bunnies pee on the bed. Why do they do that? Don’t they naturally want to keep the scent separate from where thay sleep?

[LauraPalmer]

?. What a fur-turkey!!! My husband is a big-time techie, so we have cords everywhere. Maybe we will just have to build her a big run in the basement (it is unfinished at the moment).

[Gina.Jenny]

You can buy cord protectors, I’ve spent a small fortune on them…

[LauraPalmer]

That’s good info! I’ve made them with cardboard…they really don’t look very nice! Plus, she can get through them pretty easily. I did let Laura out of her room, and into the hall-she really enjoyed it! She was very curious about the stairs, and almost went down. I was 2 steps down and she really wanted to get to me! ? I think she was a little too curious about the spaces between the posts. I may have to get some sort of bumper for them.

[sarahthegemini]

My Buttercup likes the stairs but she’s not as enthusiastic now that the bathroom upstairs is off limits. She’ll go up and then come down sulking lol. Peanut hasn’t dared venture up yet. He’s a nervous and cautious bun. Buttercup can be a bit too confident sometimes and has slipped once or twice but luckily since then she is more aware of what angle and what speed to use when coming down.

[LauraPalmer]

That’s what I’m afraid of. Laura is very confident, and very adventurous! She climbs on things that she shouldn’t (before I realize they are of interest to her, and move them). I moved some games so she could get to a shelf and play on it…she climbed on top of the wobbley boxes instead! I’m afraid she would do something silly, like throw in a dramatic binky, and tumble down to the bottom. Also, when I let her into the hall, to see what she would do, she kept trying to squeeze through the rails!

Edit: as I hit send, I looked over to see that she had climbed on top of some books that were tilted in the bookshelf. ??

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By LauraPalmer on 5/10/2017 6:43 AM

That’s what I’m afraid of. Laura is very confident, and very adventurous! She climbs on things that she shouldn’t (before I realize they are of interest to her, and move them). I moved some games so she could get to a shelf and play on it…she climbed on top of the wobbley boxes instead! I’m afraid she would do something silly, like throw in a dramatic binky, and tumble down to the bottom. Also, when I let her into the hall, to see what she would do, she kept trying to squeeze through the rails!

Edit: as I hit send, I looked over to see that she had climbed on top of some books that were tilted in the bookshelf. ??

What a funny bun  I only let the bun’s have access to the stairs when we’re here to supervise, for the very reason you describe. At least if she stumbles, I can jump up and come to her aid (stairs are very close to sofa) I can’t remember if you mentioned before  (I’ll have to re-read) but are the stairs carpeted? 

Edit: Just saw that they are. You’re right that carpet stairs are less risky than wooden. Altho mine are carpet and Butter Bean still slipped twice but it wasn’t hugely dramatic. It spooked her a little but then she realised that stairs are okay if you don’t go racing down lol.

[LauraPalmer]

She is definitely a handful! She reminds me of the little lab puppy that you can never buy enough toys for. One day, you come home from work to find that your house has been redecorated with couch fluff, and it’s proudly sitting in the midst of the mess. “Look what I did today, mom…don’t you love it?” She has 3 willow balls, a stick wheel, 3 wood/willow carrots, a wood block with bell string, a willow mat, and a bunch of boxes to climb into and on top of, and she still gets into trouble! It’s pretty cute. I feel like she needs a very large space to roam. She is really curious about everything!

[Author]

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